Ajit Pawar hints at action against NCP minister over rummy video row
The most recent storm erupted after NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar released a video purportedly showing Kokate playing an online rummy game on his phone during a legislative session. The video sparked widespread outrage, especially as it came at a time when Maharashtra is grappling with severe agrarian distress. Opposition leaders lambasted Kokate for his alleged insensitivity, pointing out that the state witnesses an average of eight farmer suicides daily."BEGGAR" REMARKAdding to the fire, Kokate recently made headlines for controversial remarks likening farmers to beggars while defending the now-defunct Re 1 Crop Insurance Scheme. 'Even a beggar does not take Re 1 in alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Re 1. Even then, some people try to misuse it,' Kokate had said, drawing flak from both the opposition and civil society groups.CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS IN CROP INSURANCE SCHEMEIn January 2025, Kokate admitted to 3-4% corruption in government schemes, specifically referencing the Re 1 Crop Insurance Scheme, where over 4,00,000 bogus applications were uncovered. This admission led to accusations from opposition leaders like Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sushma Andhare, who claimed it exposed systemic corruption within the Mahayuti government. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also demanded action against the 'masterminds' behind the scam.CONVICTION IN FRAUD CASEIn February 2025, Kokate and his brother were convicted in a 30-year-old housing fraud case in Nashik, where they were accused of tampering with documents to secure a house under the Chief Minister's discretionary quota. Although the conviction was stayed by a sessions court, the incident further damaged Kokate's reputation and raised questions about his continuation as a minister.These incidents have placed significant pressure on the Mahayuti government, which came to power with a landslide victory in the November 2024 Assembly elections.Ajit Pawar has acknowledged Kokate's history of controversies, noting that he had previously warned the minister to be cautious. The legislative council chairman, Ram Shinde, has ordered a probe into the rummy video incident, and Kokate has demanded an investigation into what he claims is a 'conspiracy' against him. Meanwhile, opposition leaders like Supriya Sule and Sanjay Raut have intensified their calls for Kokate's resignation.- EndsMust Watch
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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Mushrif blames Ladki Bahin for delay in rolling out farm loan waiver
Mumbai: Maharashtra medical education minister Hasan Mushrif on Sunday blamed the Ladki Bahin scheme for delay in announcing the farm loan waiver promised by ruling Mahayuti alliance in its manifesto for the assembly poll held last year. Hasan Mushrif, medical education minister (Hindustan Times) 'We had promised to waive crop loans taken by farmers but the state government is spending ₹46,000 crore a year on our Ladki Bahin (scheme),' Mushrif said while addressing a public meeting in Kolhapur on Sunday. Under the scheme, introduced in July last year ahead of the assembly poll, nearly 24.6 million women from low-income families are paid a monthly dole of ₹1,500. The state government spends around ₹3,800 crore per month on the scheme, which has affected expenditure on other welfare programmes and compelled several ministers to speak out against its impact on the state exchequer. 'Despite the financial constraints, the government has introduced several measures to help the farming community,' Mushrif told the gathering. 'I have a different point of view on farm loan waivers,' he went on to say. As soon as the government promises a waiver, farmers stop repaying loans, putting banks in trouble. The government should instead double grants given to farmers who honestly repay their loans to help them emerge from crises, he said. On July 13, Mushrif's colleague in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and sports and youth welfare minister Datta Bharne had said that funds were delayed because of the Ladki Bahin scheme. Chhagan Bhujbal, another NCP leader and minister, too had raised the issue, saying the scheme had placed immense financial strain on the exchequer. Before them, Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat had objected to the diversion of ₹410 crore to the scheme from the social justice department. The Ladki Bahin scheme was credited as a major reason behind the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's landslide win in the 2024 assembly elections. However, with an estimated revenue deficit of ₹45,892 crore in the financial year 2025-26, the government is now finding it difficult to make budgetary allocations for various other populist schemes announced ahead of the assembly elections. Consequently, it has postponed implementing its poll promise to increase the monthly allowance under the scheme from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100. 'If I were CM' Eyebrows were raised in political corridors on Sunday when Mushrif said that he would double the grants given to farmers who repaid loans on time if he became the chief minister some day. 'By God's grace, if at all I become the chief minister some day, I will double the grant to farmers who are honestly repaying loans. If they are getting a sum of ₹50,000 I will increase the amount to ₹1 lakh. This will help build a habit of repayment of loans among farmers,' he told the gathering at Kolhapur. The reference to chances of him becoming chief minister caused an uproar as his political boss and NCP chief Ajit Pawar has had the same desire for a long time.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Drug party' raid: Seven remanded in police custody till July 29
Pune: Judicial Magistrate First Class NS Bari on Sunday remanded seven individuals, including Pranjal Khewalkar—son-in-law of NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse—in police custody till July 29 in connection with a drug bust during a suspected party in Kharadi area. According to the prosecution, Pune Police raided a serviced apartment in the early hours of Sunday based on specific information. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) The accused were produced before the holiday court, where public prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar sought seven days' police custody. She argued that further interrogation was necessary to trace the origin of the drugs, examine prior party records, and determine the involvement of other individuals. She also noted that some of the accused had criminal backgrounds and that the investigation was at a preliminary stage. Defence advocate Vijaysinh Thombare, representing Khewalkar, alleged that his client was being falsely implicated due to political motives. 'This is nothing but an attempt to sabotage my client's political career. His wife holds a political office, and this appears to be a trap,' he told the court. He claimed that there was no evidence of drug consumption by Khewalkar and that no medical report had been submitted to the court. According to the prosecution, Pune Police raided a serviced apartment in the early hours of Sunday based on specific information. The apartment, booked in Khewalkar's name, was the site of a party where five men and two women were present. Police seized liquor bottles, hookah setups, ganja, and 2.7 grams of cocaine—classified as an intermediate quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985. Videos from the party, showing scenes of chaos and a woman in distress, went viral on social media. Prosecutor Vengurlekar said that the accused were habitual offenders and reiterated that the police followed due procedure. 'This is not an isolated case. The recovered contraband and supporting evidence validate the charges,' she said. Thombare countered that his client had been under surveillance for months. 'Police have previously followed him on two occasions and collected CCTV footages from hotels. This is the third time, and it seems to be a deliberate move to frame him. My client is not a criminal,' he said. Advocate Abid Mulani, representing two other accused, raised legal concerns over the arrests. 'The investigating agency failed to inform the accused of the grounds of their arrest at the time of detention, violating Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This renders their continued custody unlawful,' he argued. He submitted that accused number 3 and number 4 neither possessed nor consumed any narcotics, making the invocation of the NDPS Act against them untenable. While the court has kept the question of the legality of arrest open for further consideration, Mulani contended that continued custody of these two accused is unwarranted and amounts to a violation of their fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
If I became CM, I would give Rs 1 lakh incentive to regular farm loan repayers: Mushrif
Kolhapur: Govt spent Rs 46,000 crore last year towards Mukhyamantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin yojana installments of Rs 1,500 for all eligible women. Therefore, the financial situation is tough, as a result of which, govt is unable to fulfil the promise of farm loan waiver as promised by Mahayuti during the assembly election, said NCP politician and minister of medical education Hasan Mushrif. Speaking at Vandur village in Kolhapur on Saturday evening, Mushrif said that if in the future he becomes the chief minister, he would increase the incentive to the farmers repaying loans regularly from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Due to the promise of a loan waiver, farmers have kept their loan dues pending, except in Kolhapur district, where 91% of agricultural loans were recovered. "Another promise we made is the loan waiver to the farmers. The situation is quite challenging. This year, we disbursed Rs 46,000 crore for Ladki Bahin. Recently, we found that as many as 14,000 men have been listed as beneficiaries. I have a different view on loan waiver. Farmers don't pay loans if govt declares the intention of a loan waiver. The dues keep pending. The banks go deep into crisis. Therefore, if I become CM in the future, by the grace of God and people's support, I will increase the incentive amount to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000," said Mushrif. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Official IQ Test: What is Your IQ? | Answer 30 Questions to Find Out IQ International Undo Mushrif also said govt has not distanced itself from increasing the Rs 1,500 monthly Ladki Bahin instalment to Rs 2,100. "Press the button in front of clock (NCP symbol) and lotus (BJP symbol) during the upcoming zilla parishad and local body elections. We will not rest until we get Rs 2,100 into the accounts of Ladki Bahin beneficiaries," said Mushrif.
